Chapter 201: How Cruel Can You Be? +8 Pearls

At Blesertin, Prudence endured the pain etched on Clark’s face, silently listening to his report. A whirlwind of emotions flickered in her eyes—fear, anger, frustration—before slowly fading into calm. She looked at Clark, her eyes softening. “I know you’re a great-grandson, always so kind. Now that you’re serving the King and your future looks bright, I’m really happy for you.” She continued, “Has the King found you a new place to live? If he has, I’ll come with you. I might be getting on in years, but I can still help run the household for you.”

Clark’s lashes fluttered slightly as he met her gaze. “The King hasn’t given me a new mansion,” he replied, his voice tight.

“Then go beg him!” Prudence snapped, impatience flashing in her eyes.

Clark didn’t respond. He simply covered her with a blanket and stood to leave.

“Stop… stop right there!” Prudence’s voice trembled with exasperation. She tried to prop herself up, but her frail body gave way, and she fell back heavily, cursing. “You… disobey me, and you’ll die a horrible death!”

Her heart seethed with bitterness. The slightest annoyance made her lash out with sharp, venomous words. Clark straightened his back, took a deep breath, and walked out without another word.

Hearing of Clark’s restoration to office, Isolde and Nicole were happy. After finishing dinner, they decided to head to the Pearl Tower to celebrate. While they were drinking, Martha arrived uninvited and casually plopped down next to Clark, giving him a sugary smile. “Brother!” she called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I came to congratulate you—you can’t forget me, right?”

Clark barely glanced at her, pulling back slightly and maintaining his composure. “Thanks for the congratulations.”

Martha raised her glass and grinned. “Let me toast to you, Brother!”

She didn’t have her own glass, so she grabbed Clark’s wine glass without hesitation. He looked at her and shrugged. “Drink it. We already had some just now.”

Without missing a beat, Martha snatched the glass from Nicole’s hand. “Seriously? Can’t you see Brother doesn’t have a cup?” she snapped. She filled Clark’s glass with a sweet smile. “Here, drink up. After this toast, we can all forget the past. I was a fool back then, easily swayed. I swear I won’t mess things up again.”

Isolde’s smile was sharp, as if biting back a laugh. “No need for a toast, really. Last time you tried to toast, you almost ended up poisoning Clark.”

Martha chuckled. “What are you on about, Isolde? That was in the past. We’ve already agreed to move on, so why bring it up now? We’re family, let’s just get along.” She turned to Clark with wide, innocent eyes. “Right, Brother? You agree, don’t you?”

Clark didn’t respond, but Isolde did. “When he was down, you stepped all over him. Now that he’s crawling back up, you’re acting all sweet. Do you have any dignity?”

Clark gently pushed her away and stood up. “I’ve got to head to the palace tomorrow. No time for more drinks tonight. Enjoy yours, though. I’ll be going.”

And just like that, he was gone. Martha Langley hurriedly chased after him, but Clark simply ran away. She rushed after him, but couldn't keep up. Frustrated, she stomped her foot and left in a huff. Nicole shook his head, watching it all unfold. “It’s embarrassing watching her chase after him like that.”

Isolde remained silent, but thought to herself, Martha is shameless, sure, but there is some kind of skill there. If someone like her has the right opportunities, she could actually achieve something.

She fell quiet, deep in thought. The marriage was settled, but the matters of the expedition still needed to be figured out. Earlier, when she asked Clark what was in the thesis, he had told her the truth. Hearing that made her heart race. Does that mean the King and Queen Mother are planning something?

The next day, she figured her master was probably leaving the palace, so she rushed over to Paletein Manor to find him.

“Doug, did the King say anything?” Isolde asked.

Doug took off his outer clothes and shook his head helplessly. “No.”

Isolde’s eyes were filled with disappointment. “No?”

Doug waved his hand and gestured for her to sit down. “Don’t worry. It’s autumn now. Every year at the beginning of autumn, Queen Catherine will invite her to a banquet. You’re a County Princess, so you should be invited to the palace. When the time comes, I will arrange for you to meet the Queen Dowager.”

Queen Catherine was the King’s biological mother, but the King had always placed his trust in the Queen Dowager. When Isolde heard this, she remembered that the Queen Dowager had read her brother’s strategy. If she encouraged the Queen Dowager again, she might agree. As long as the Queen Dowager was willing to say something in front of the King, this matter would be half done.

“Thank you!” Isolde said excitedly.

Doug’s tone grew serious. “But you need to promise me something. You’ve gotta be smart about this. Watch the Queen Dowager’s face closely. If her expression changes, stop. No matter how badly you want to push forward, don’t say another word. Your safety’s the most important thing. Got it?”

“I got it!” Isolde quickly promised, not wanting her master to change his mind.

Doug gave her a long look and sighed, a little exasperated. “You’re so stubborn.”

“Yeah, just like you,” Isolde shot back.

Doug smiled, his gaze landing on the thick dark circles under her eyes, still obvious despite the heavy makeup she’d tried to cover them with. She clearly hadn’t slept much last night.

“You promised that once I took care of your marriage issue, you’d tell me everything about what happened with William and his mother,” Doug said, his tone shifting. “Now’s the time. Spill it.”

Isolde blinked and looked at him with wide eyes. “Well… I once had this dream. I dreamed that I married William, and then I went off to war with him…”

“Shut up!” Doug scowled, cutting her off. “I’ve heard about your dream before. What I’m asking is what those two did to you beyond that.”

Isolde sighed dramatically. “They broke off the engagement. They’re humiliating me.”

Doug raised his fist, his eyes narrowing. “Little brat, are you trying to mess with me? You really want to see if I’ll hit you?”

Isolde didn’t need any more encouragement. She darted away in a flash. “Can’t mess with you. I gotta go!”

Doug watched her scurry off, a smile tugging at his lips. But then, for some reason, his eyes glistened, and a deep sadness washed over him. He rubbed his temples, a look of melancholy in his eyes.

Three years. God, how cruel can you be?

He couldn’t forget the year he purposely went to Windermount’s Belleview Manor to find Isolde. The second he saw her, he thought she was absolutely adorable. She was just a kid back then, hanging upside down from a tree, her big eyes wide and scanning everything around her, full of energy. In that instant, it was like he was looking at a younger version of her mother, Prunella. So he ended up taking Isolde under his wing instead. All he’d ever wanted was for her to have a peaceful life. But now that he knew she only had three years left, all he could do was help her get whatever the hell she wanted. As long as she was happy.

He missed her most when she was away at Belleview Manor. When she smiled, it felt like the whole world lit up, like the shadows just vanished. Maybe it wasn’t so bad that she stayed at the manor after all.